The army has been deployed in Beirut to help police quell unrest after at least 59 people were injured in clashes on Sunday. The protests in the Lebanese capital initially called for the improvement of waste collection but evolved into calls for a regime change.

Lebanese army units arrived in central Beirut on Sunday night, following a day of clashes during which police deployed tear gas, water cannon and fired into the air, as protesters threw stones and bottles at police.

Army deployed in martyrs square as a construction site burns. The guys who were rioting here are now gone pic.twitter.com/4V14XYOHYg

The army reportedly started setting up checkpoints and helping security forces seal the cleared area after the organizers of the protest eventually called on the crowd to leave and return for another protest on Monday.

According to the Lebanese Red Cross, at least 59 people – both protesters and police officers – had to be taken to several hospitals following the clashes. A further 343 were reportedly treated for minor injuries in a “field hospital” at the scene, according to the organization’s Twitter account.

Police responded by using water cannon and tear gas, forcing the demonstrators to retreat from the area near the palace. Gunfire was heard as security forces fired in the air in an effort to drive protesters away from government offices.

The protesters kept throwing stones and bottles at the police, who remained behind protective barriers.

Earlier, the Lebanese Prime Minister, Tammam Salam, described force used against protesters as “excessive” and promised that those responsible would be held to account.

“I warn that we are going towards collapse if matters continue. Frankly, I have not and will not be a partner in this collapse. Let all officials and political forces bear their responsibilities,” Salam said in a televised address Sunday.

Regional threats, like the war in neighboring Syria and the growing influence of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL), are adding fuel to the instability in Lebanon.

The editor of the Pan-African News Wire, Abayomi Azikiwe, told RT that the situation could easily get worse, affecting Lebanon and adding even more tension to the region.

“There’s a political vacuum inside the country. The presidency has been vacant now for over a year. They had the same government since 2009. There was supposed to be an election in 2014, however, because of the political division inside the country the election has been postponed for another two years,” he said.

According to Azikiwe, the deadlock in the Lebanese power is caused by the ongoing civil war in Syria.

“You have political parties on Lebanon, who support the opposition in Syria, and the other political parties, who support the Syrian government in Damascus,” he explained.

“It may appear to be a domestic situation but it can easily deteriorate into a clash that may not necessarily be controllable by the existing government and security forces inside the country.”